Reader’s Question:

Do I need an attorney in Florida for my DWI case or can I just represent myself?

Sean

Thank you for asking Sean.

Yes, you can actually represent yourself — although I don’t think its a good idea. It is like a doctor doing an appendectomy on himself.

Driving while Intoxicated (DWI) is a very complex field with increasingly severe consequences. There is a minefield of complicated constitutional, procedural, evidentiary, sentencing and administrative license issues.

A qualified and experienced DWI attorney, however, can review the case for defects, have the court suppress evidence, compel discovery of such things as calibration and maintenance records for the breath machine, negotiate for a lesser charge or reduced sentence, have blood samples independently analyzed, obtain expert witnesses for trial, contest the administrative license suspension, etc. It is possible that you end up pleading guilty on a case that might have been dismissed.

Goodluck!

MariCAR